ECaccess is a framework for batch and interactive access to ECMWF services for Member States and other ECMWF users.

The components of ECaccess are:

To allow authentication and improve security, an ECaccess Certification Authority (ECCA) certifies all ECaccess components.

Ecaccess gateway

The gateway software is provided for Member States' remote access to ECMWF computing and archiving facilities. Throughout the guide, the terms "gateway" and "ECaccess gateway" are used interchangeably. Gateways include a model for the management of "plugin" services. A plugin is a piece of code that handles requests/responses flowing through the gateway. Currently, there are plugins for incoming FTP, HTTP/S, X11, SSH and Telnet (MSgateways only) requests to ECMWF. Additional plugins are planned. On top of the SSH plugin the NX application can be used for interactive access to ECMWF. The ECMWF ECaccess gateway (hereafter referred to as "ECgateway") can be used on its own. Nevertheless, using a Member State ECaccess gateway (hereafter referred to "MSgateway") instead offers the following features and advantages over using the ECgateway on its own:

Using an ECaccess gateway

If the basic features, available via the ECMWF ECaccess gateway interfaces, are sufficient, you can use "ecaccess.ecmwf.int" for the web and the FTP interface. The Web Toolkit (see Web Toolkit - The full featured client) uses "ecaccess.ecmwf.int" as the default gateway name. If you have access to RMDCN and want to use it for accessing ECMWF, you can use "msaccess.ecmwf.int" instead.

If you wish to use the advanced features, only available via a Member State ECaccess gateway, you will need to find out, on which host this gateway has been installed at your local site and which FTP and HTTPS ports are being used by that gateway. You may be able to obtain this information by running the ecaccess-gateway-name Web Toolkit command. If ecaccess-gateway-name is in your command path, it will provide information about the ECaccess gateway you are using.

If the command is not available, you will need to contact your local ECaccess administrator or Computing Representative. You can also email advisory@ecmwf.int.

Plugins

By default, the following plugins are automatically started on all the gateways: